“I never did, Miss Carnforth, I never hope to see one! But I can tell you anyhow, I’d rather see than be one.”
“Oh, of course, if you’re going to take that tone,” and Eve turned away, decidedly offended.
“Sorry!” and Wise flashed a smile at her. “But, you see, a detective can’t afford to believe in ghosts. We make our living solving mysteries, and to say, ‘It was the ghost! You’re right, it was the ghost!’ is by way of begging the question.”
“Then you think the phantoms that appeared to some of us were really human beings?” asked Tracy, interestedly.
“I sure do.”
“And you propose to find out who and how?” said Braye.
“If I live up to my reputation, I must do so. There are but two kinds of detectives. Effective detectives and defective detectives. It is the aim of my life to belong to the former class, and here’s my chance to make good. Now, I’ve examined the upper floors, I’ll look over this hall and the ground floor rooms. Shall I have time before dinner, Mrs. Landon?”
His charm and pleasant personality had already won Milly’s liking and she said, cordially, “Yes, indeed, Mr. Wise. And if you wish, we’ll delay dinner to suit your pleasure.”
“Not at all. Done in a few minutes. Stunning hall, eh, Zizi?”
“Yes,” said the thin little voice of the thin little girl, and Milly suddenly realized that Zizi was present with the crowd.